History

Constitution of Galle Municipal Council

Galle Municipal Council was constituted on 01st January 1867 by an order of William Vaas Gibson, a colonial secretary, which published in the gazette on 24th November 1866 under the rule of British Governor Sir Hercules George Robert Robinson.

History in brief

The number of divisions increased up to 7 in 1932 and it increased up to 10 in 1939. In 1944, it increased up to 15.

From 1867 to 1939, the chairman of the Municipal Council was the executive officer.

Chairman’s name

Year

1.

Mr. J.W.W.Birch

1867

2.

Mr. W. Morris

1867

3.

Mr. F.S. Templer

1871

4.

Mr. E. Eliot

1886, 1889, 1892-1893,1895-1896

5.

Mr. W.W. Hammer

1883

6.

Mr. A. Bailey

1883

7.

Mr. W.E.T.Sharp

1885, 1887

8.

Mr.P.A. Templer

1889-1891

9.

Mr. R.W. Fewers

1893-1894

10.

Mr. H.White

1896

11.

Mr. E.R. Elios

1897

12.

Mr.W.Hall

1898-1899

13.

Mr.George M. Fowler

1900-1902

14.

Mr.H.W.Brodhurst

1902-1904

15.

Mr.H.L.Crowford

1904-1905

16.

Mr.C.M. Lusiton

1905-1910

17.

Mr.R.B.Hellings

1913-1921

18.

Mr. C.S. Warham

1921

19.

Mr. F. Bartlette

1921-1924

20.

Mr. T.B. Russel

1924-1926

21.

Mr. L.W.C.Shurder

1926-1929

22.

Mr. M.M.Wedorburn

1929-1930

23.

Mr.G.S.Wodman

1931

24.

Mr.J.D.Brown

1931-1934

25.

Mr.W.J.L. Rogerson

1934-1935, 1937-1939

26.

Mr.C.Harrison Jones

1935-1937

The First Meeting at Galle Municipal Council

The first meeting of Galle Municipal Council chaired by Mr.J.W.W Birch was held on 4th May 1867. Dr.P.D. Anthenese, Mr. F.W. De Voss , Mr.A.R. Karunarathne, Mr. I.W.Ludovici, Mr. Ahamad Bava and Mr. Koranelis Amarasekara Gunawardhana were the other members.

Mayor - council system

The system of appointing a chairman was abolished and the mayor-council system was established from 1939, according to the Municipal Council Ordinance.

Dr. W. Dahanayake - First Mayor

Hon. Mayors

Hon. Mayor’s Name

Year

1.

Mr. W. Dahanayake

1939 - 1941

2.

Mr. A.I. H.A.Wahab

1942 - 1943

3.

Mr.D.S.Gunasekara

1944

4.

Mr.W.T.Wijekulasooriya

1945,1947,1948,1949,1952 - 1953

5.

Mr. E.D.Nagahawatta

1946

6.

Mr.A.R.M.Thassim

1950,1951,1954-1956,1957-1959,1960-1962

7.

Mr.W.D.S.Abeygoonawardhane

1966-1969

8.

Mr.W.T.Wijekulasooriya

1970-1971

9.

Mr .B.P.Wijenarayana

1972-1974

10.

Mr .S.C.C.R.Koolathilake

1974

11.

Mr. A.G.Goonarathne

1979-1983

12.

Mr.A.H.M.Anwar

1983-1988

13.

Mr.T. Darlin de Silva

1988-1991

14.

Mr. Wijaya Dahanayake

1991-1997

15.

Mr.P.H.Lionel Premasiri

1997-2001,2002-2004

16.

Mr.Mansoor Marikkar

2001-2002

17.

Mr.M.I.M.Arif

2004-2006

18.

Mr.W.Kelum Senewirathne

2006-2008

19.

Mr.Methsiri de Silva

From 2008 To 2013.01.22

20.

Mr.W.Kelum Senewirathne

From 2013.01.23 To 2014.06.26 (Acting)

21.

Mr.Methsiri de Silva

From 2014.06.26 To 2015.05.08

22.

Mr.W.Kelum Senewirathne

From 2015.05.08 To 2016.06.30 (Acting)

Hon. Deputy Mayors

Hon. Deputy Mayor’s Name

Year

1.

Mr.A.I.H.A. Wahab

1939 - 1941

2.

Mr. E de S. Wijerathne

1941

3.

Mr.W.T.Wijekulasooriya

1944-1945

4.

Mr.A.H.E.Fernando

1946

5.

Mr. G.Keerthisinghe

1946

6.

Mr.A.D.H.Weerathunga

1947,1949,1951-1953

7.

Mr.D.Y.Weerasiri

1948,1954

8.

Mr.H.K.Edmond

1950,1954-1956,1960-1961

9.

Mr .D.A.S.P.Dahanayake

1957-1959,1961

10.

Mr .D.P.Wijenarayana

1961-1962,1966-1971

11.

Mr. Mansoor Marikkar

<1972/td>

12.

Mr.W.T.Obeysekara

1973-1974

13.

Mr.B.S.Abeysekara

1974

14.

Mr. M.Izzath Ali

1979-1983

15.

Mr.T.Darlin de Silva

1983-1988

16.

Mrs.N.T.Wijenarayane

1988-1991

17.

Mr. M.I.M. Arif

1991-1997

18.

Mr.Mansoor Marikkar

1997-2001

19.

Mr.W.Kelum Senewirathne

2001-2002

20.

Mr. Fowzul Niyaz

2002-2011

20.

Mr. W.Kelum Senewirathne

From 2011.10.15 To 2013.01.19

22.

Mr. W.Kelum Senewirathne

From 2014.06.26 To 2015.05.08

Mr. T.L.F. Mac - First Commissioner

A special commissioner for the municipal council had the executive powers from1963 to 1965 for the first time. He was Mr. L.G.Siriwardhana. Mr. R.D.Abeysinghe and Mr. A.W.Edirisinghe were the other special commissioners who had the executive powers from 1975 and 1979 respectively.